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How I Entertain My Toddler on Flights
25
items I’ve been travelling with my daughter since she was 7 months old, and one thing I’ve learnt is that you definitely don’t need to pack a suitcase full of toys — you just need the RIGHT things.
I’ve included options for different stages because what w...
Sections
4
6 - 12 months old
12 - 18 months old
18 - 24 months
2-3 years
6 - 12 months old
SIMPLE is best! I packed toys she could grab, pull, spin and explore independently — especially anything that could stay attached to her or the tray table instead of constantly ending up on the plane floor
A book AND an activity in one! There are different textures, colours and interactive elements for little hands to explore, so it gives baby more to do than simply looking at pictures. Soft + lightweight also means it’s easy to squeeze into an already...
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids My First Activity Book
So many activities packed into ONE little cube! Different buttons, switches and moving parts give busy hands plenty to explore without me having to pack several separate toys. I especially love compact toys like this for flights because every bit of ...
SOCBTNSO Montessori Busy Cube Travel Toy
The SUCTION CUP is what makes these perfect for flights! Stick one onto a suitable smooth surface like the tray table and baby can spin, push and explore it without you constantly picking up a toy from the floor. Small, lightweight + entertaining = e...
Pop Suction Cup Spinner Airplane Travel Toys
For the stage when EVERYTHING goes straight into their mouth! 😂 Easy for little hands to grab with different areas to hold and chew, so it doubles as something to explore AND something useful during teething. A simple little toy that doesn’t take up...
Baby Elefun Teething Toys 5X Pain Relief
Peekaboo never gets old at this age! Lift the flaps together to discover what’s hiding underneath, then let baby explore the different textures and soft pages themselves. I love this as a calmer flight activity — and there are no little pieces to los...
Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Baby Book - Peekaboo!
A little sensory toy with lots to explore! The colourful beads give baby something interesting to watch while the different textures give little hands and mouths something to investigate. Compact enough to throw into the flight bag when you need anot...
B. toys Baby Rattle, Rain-Glow Squeeze Teether Toy
12 - 18 months old
Once she became more mobile, keeping those little hands BUSY became the goal. I looked for compact activities with buttons, pulling, popping and moving parts that could hold her attention without taking over my entire carry-on.
Sometimes SIMPLE keeps them entertained the longest! Little ones can push and pop the bubbles over and over again — perfect for that stage when repetitive play is everything. No loose pieces + easy to throw into the carry-on = a travel win!
Chuckle & Roar Pop It Board Bilingual Toy
For the toddler who cannot resist pushing ALL the buttons 😂 The different silicone bubbles are so satisfying for little fingers to push and pop again and again. I love that there’s nothing to set up, nothing to lose and they can immediately start pl...
Fat Brain Toys Dimpl Pops Deluxe - Ultimate
Made for those little hands that want to fiddle with EVERYTHING! It’s the kind of repetitive fine-motor play that can buy you some precious quiet time on a flight.
Buckle Toys Buster Square Toddler Travel Toy
One soft book, lots for little hands to discover! Rather than just looking at pictures, they can touch, lift and interact with the different elements themselves. Lightweight, quiet and no loose pieces to chase down the aisle — exactly what I want in ...
Melissa & Doug Soft Activity Baby Book
THIS is the kind of toy that earns its carry-on space! Instead of bringing several separate fidget toys, there are different things to push, spin, flip and explore all in one board. Perfect for rotating through different activities when their attenti...
Fat Brain Toys PlayTab Essentials Sensory Board
18 - 24 months
At this age, things she could draw on, stick, press and do over and over again started holding her attention for much longer. My rule: compact, reusable and preferably nothing I have to retrieve from under the plane seat
One of my favourite types of mess-free travel activities! Fill the pen with a little water and let them “paint” to reveal the pictures underneath — then once it dries, they can do it ALL over again. No crayons rolling under the seat + reusable throug...
Melissa & Doug On The Go Water Wow! Jungle
This gives busy little fingers buttons to press and things to discover without handing over your screen. I especially like having one toy with multiple things to interact with when I’m trying to keep the number of toys in my carry-on down.
Boppo Screen-Free Learning Tablet, 40+ Games
Stickers without the one-and-done mess! Little ones can peel, stick and reposition the reusable jelly stickers again and again. I love reusable activities for longer flights because you can bring the SAME activity back out later instead of needing so...
Stick4Ever Jelly Sticker Book - Waterproof, Reusable Animals
They can scribble endlessly and erase everything with one button. No crayons/markers rolling onto the floor.
TEKFUN 10-inch LCD Writing Tablet for Kids
If your toddler loves pressing buttons, THIS is basically a book made for them! It turns reading into a hands-on activity and there are zero loose pieces to lose.
Melissa & Doug Poke-a-Dot Who's in Ocean
2-3 years
I look for activities she can actually get absorbed in — drawing, building, puzzles, search-and-find, stickers and things we can do together. Anything reusable that I can bring back out later in the flight gets bonus points!
I love reusable activities for flights because one book can come back out multiple times instead of being finished after 10 minutes.
Wipe Clean Preschool Activity Book
Stickers become SO much more fun at this age! They can peel, place and move the reusable stickers around while creating their own little scenes and stories. Flat, lightweight + something they can redo throughout the flight = an easy carry-on activity...
Stick4Ever Preschool Reusable Sticker Book
A puzzle I’d actually bring on a plane! The magnetic pieces make it much more travel-friendly than a regular puzzle, while giving toddlers something to match, problem-solve and complete. I especially love activities we can pull out and do together wh...
Melissa & Doug Take-Along Farm Magnetic Puzzle
The smaller travel-friendly pieces let them build, knock down and create something completely different again — exactly the kind of open-ended activity that can keep coming back out during a long flight.
MAGNA-TILES microMAGS 26-Piece Travel Set
Instead of just reading the pages, you can sit together and search for the different characters and objects. I love this for the point in the flight when she’s bored of independent toys and we need something to do TOGETHER.
Where's Bluey?: A Search-and-Find Book
This gives busy little fingers buttons to press and things to discover without handing over your screen. I especially like having one toy with multiple things to interact with when I’m trying to keep the number of toys in my carry-on down.
Boppo Screen-Free Learning Tablet, 40+ Games
Stickers without the one-and-done mess! Little ones can peel, stick and reposition the reusable jelly stickers again and again. I love reusable activities for longer flights because you can bring the SAME activity back out later instead of needing so...
Stick4Ever Jelly Sticker Book - Waterproof
One of my favourite types of mess-free travel activities! Fill the pen with a little water and let them “paint” to reveal the pictures underneath — then once it dries, they can do it ALL over again. No crayons rolling under the seat + reusable throug...
Melissa & Doug On The Go Water Wow! Jungle
They can scribble endlessly and erase everything with one button. No crayons/markers rolling onto the floor.
TEKFUN 10-inch LCD Writing Tablet for Kids